Court Rules On Nnamdi Kanu’s Request For Transfer From Sokoto Prison

According to Ireporter Online, the ruling was delivered on Tuesday by Justice James Omotosho, who dismissed the ex parte motion after finding it legally defective. The court held that the application lacked competence and could not be sustained.

During the proceedings, Kanu’s counsel, Demdoo Asan, a senior legal officer with the Legal Aid Council, informed the court of his decision to withdraw from the case, citing irreconcilable differences. He explained that despite maintaining regular phone communication with Kanu’s relatives since the last adjournment, they failed to appear at the Legal Aid office to depose to the application, notwithstanding repeated assurances.

Asan further told the court that his decision to step aside was influenced by attempts by Kanu to dictate how the case should be conducted in court, a development he said was inconsistent with professional legal ethics. He noted that such conduct made it impossible for him, as an officer of the court, to continue representing the defendant in good conscience.

He added that consultations with his superiors at the Legal Aid Council supported his decision, stressing that legal practitioners must be allowed to exercise professional judgment in handling cases, without external interference.

Invoking the relevant provisions of the Federal High Court Rules, Asan formally applied to withdraw from the matter. Justice Omotosho commended the counsel for upholding the dignity of the court and granted leave for both him and the Legal Aid Council to discontinue representation of Kanu.

In his ruling, the judge reiterated that the motion before the court was incompetent but directed, in the interest of justice, that other parties be properly served. He observed that there was no evidence of service on record since the last court sitting in December 2025. Consequently, Justice Omotosho ordered that the ex parte motion be struck out for lack of competence.